July school holiday fortnight set to be retained

Leicestershire's traditional early "July fortnight" start to the summer holidays is to be retained under revised proposals set out by education bosses.

Last month officials at Leicestershire County Council set out proposed changes to school term times which could have ended the traditional early start to the summer break in the county.

However, the council paused a proposed consultation on the change after a backlash from parents and local politicians.

Now they are to relaunch the consultation but with two options rather than three - both of which retain the early start to the summer holidays.

Leicestershire schools have traditionally broken up for the summer early in July - at least two weeks before the rest of the country.

The pattern reflected the Leicestershire Workers' July Fortnight, a county-wide holiday period introduced in 1965, where factories and businesses closed for the first two weeks of July to enable workers to avoid peak holiday periods.

The authority's Reform UK-led cabinet is set to approve a new consultation when it meets on Tuesday.

People will now be asked for views on two proposals, both of which retain an early start to the summer holidays.

Option one would preserve the current term date pattern while option two would keep the early summer break but introduce an earlier start to the autumn term to accommodate a two-week half-term in October.

Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We recognise that the traditional early start to the summer break is valued by many people here in Leicestershire which is why we have looked again at the proposals before launching our formal consultation.

"It's important that we respect the county's traditional term-time patterns while ensuring the best educational outcomes for our children.

"We really want to know what residents, schools, staff, parents and carers think and understand what works best for them before our proposed dates are finalised."

The city council is also set to consult on future term times though a county council report said the city was expected to propose a slightly later start to the summer school holidays than patterns proposed by the county council.

The county council consultation will take place in May and the results of the feedback will be considered again by the cabinet in September.

Any changes agreed after that would app'y from autumn 2027 to summer 2032.

The county council sets term dates for 285 local authority maintained schools but officials said academies tended to align their calendars with the authority.

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.